Lubricator



J. POWELL.

(No Model.)

LUBRIGATOR.

Patented Feb. 2, 1886.

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NlTED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

JAMES POWELL, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 335,146, dated February 2, 1886. Application filed September 14, 1885. Serial No. 177,104. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES POWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to those devices'which employ a spring-actuated piston for inducing a forced feed of that kind of turgid lubricant known as grease, in contradistinction from oil or other similar fluids which are auto matically discharged by simple gravitation; and the first part of my improvements comprises a novel combination of piston, piston rod, spring, hollow screw-threaded adj ustingstem, and an external nut that engages with said stem, the details of said combination and the advantages thereof being hereinafter more fully described.

The second part of my improvements consists in fitting a suitable cut-off or regulator transversely within the base of the cup or reservoir, said device being provided with a port, channel, or groove capable of being brought into communication with the discharge-pas sage of said cup, so as to coact with the piston in controlling the discharge of grcase'according to the density of the latter or the stiffness of the spring, as hereinafter more fully described.

The third part of my improvements consists in slotting each end of this rod, or otherwise adapting it to be turned from either side of the lubricator, as hereinafter more fully described.

The fourth part of my improvements comprises a novel method of fitting the rod within the cup, so as to prevent end-play of the former, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved lubricator, the cutoff at the base of the same being closed and the knob of the piston-rod being out of contact with the hollow-stem. Fig. 2 is an axial section of the device, the cut-off being open and the aforesaid knob being in contact with the stem. Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section of the cut-off, taken in the plane of its channel or port. Fig. 4 is a modification of the cut- Off or regulator.

The cylinder, grease-cup, or reservoir A has a customary shank, B, wherewith the lubricator is attached to a journal-bearing or other piece of machinery. This cup is screwthreaded at its upper end, as at a, to permit the engagement of a cap or cover, 0, having a screw-threaded neck, D. An internal thread, E, is chased within this cap and neck to receive an externally-threaded stem, F, the outer or upper end of which has a thumb-piece, G, cast therewith or rigidly applied thereto. This stem F is hollow or tubular, the bore thereof, H, being traversed by a piston-rod, I, having a knob, J, at its upper end. Secured to the lower end of this rod is the piston K, having a suitable elastic packing, is, the upper surface of said piston being dished at L, to serve as a seat for the lower coil of a conical. volute spring, M, the upper coil of which bears against the end of the hollow stem F, and thereby obviates the necessity of forming a chambered extension of the cap 0, which must be done when an ordinary spiral spring is used.

N is ajam or look not that retains this stem to any specific adjustment.

Journaled transversely within the base of the cup A is a cylindrical rod, 0, having at its mid-length a channel or port, 0, capable of being brought into communication with the dischargepassage P of said cup. As seen in Fig. 1, the opposite ends of this rod are slotted or nicked at R R, while in Fig. 2 square arbors r r are substituted for said slots. Furthermore, said rod is grooved circumferentially near its ends, as at S S, to afford an opportunity for upsetting the metal, and thus forming annular collars T T on the same. These collars are made after the rod has been fitted within a bore, U, of the base, the opposite ends of said bore being reamed out or countersunk, if desired, to enable said collars to turn therein. Byzthis arrangement endplay of the cut-off O 0 is prevented.

Preparatory to charging the reservoir A the cap 0 is first unscrewed therefrom and the stem F is raised until its lower end is about in line with the under side of said cap, which elevation is readily effected on account of the various coils of the spring M fitting one Within the other. The reservoirs being then filled the cap is restored to its place, thereby causing the piston K to rest'on the surface of the grease, and as the latter is comparatively turgid this pressure beneath the piston acts to compress the spring M, thereby elevating the rod I within the stem F and raising the knob J from off the upper end of said stem, as seen in Fig. l. The knob will be thus elevated as long as any pressure is exerted against the piston, but the moment the cut-off O is turned so as to bring its channel 0 in line with the passage P, and thus allow the grease to escape, the piston gradually descends on account of the stress exerted by spring M, thereby diminishing the distance between the knob Jand the upper end of stem F. As soon as this knob comes in contact with said stem, as seen in Fig. 2, the spring ceases to exert its pressure against the piston, and the discharge of grease is at once arrested; but by simply screwing down the stem F pressure will again be brought to bear against the spring M and the knob J be again lifted off of said stem, thereby starting the flow of grease through the passage P, the stem being locked at every adjustment by screwing the jam-nut N against the neck D.

From this description it is apparent that the elevation of knob J indicates that the piston is in action, provided the cut-off O is open, while the resting of said knob on the stem F shows that the spring M has ceased to operate, and that said stem must be turned, so as to impose more stress on said spring. It is also apparent that this method of ejecting the grease by imparting tension to the operating-spring at suitable intervals enables the use of a comparatively short spring, and insures a more regular discharge, because a long spring is very stiff when fully compressed, but becomes quite weak after it has reached the limit of its play or expansion. It is obvious, however, that any coiled spring when first compressed exerts more power than it does at the end of its stroke, and for this reason I prefer to adjust the cut-off or regulator O 0 in the following manner: As soon as the stem F is first screwed down, the coiled spring M is subjected to a severe compression, which induces a too rapid delivery of grease; but by properly turning the cut-off O 0 to diminish the area of the discharge-passage P the piston K will be more or less retarded in its descent; but as the spring gradually reaches the termination of its stroke the cut-off can be opened at intervals to afford a more free passage for the grease; hence it will be seen that this cut off serves as a regulator which coacts with the piston in controlling the discharge of grease from the cup or other reservoir.

By applying suitable letters or other characters on the base of the cup the engineer can regulate the position of port 0 with reference to the passage P, so as to afford a more or less copious discharge of grease, according to the density of the same, and by increasing the diameter of said passage below said port, as

indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, and more clearly seen in Fig. 4, the lubricant will escape with the least possible friction. In some cases one of the collars, as T, may be adapted to bear against the exterior of the base, while the collar T alone may be headed up against said base. By properly turning the stem F the piston K can be readily drawn up to the top of cup A, which is quite an advantage when the piston fits very snugly within the cylinder. The provision at each end of the cut-off O o of devices R R or r r, for readily turning the same, enables said cut-off to be adjusted from either side as'occasion may require. For this reason extra care need not be taken to screw the cup down accurately to the' bearing, as one of said devices R or R will at all times be accessible.

In the modification seen in Fig. 4 the rod 0 is screw-threaded, so as to be either advanced on retracted for the purpose of regulating the flow around the conical point of said rod.

I claim as my invention 1. An improved grease-cup, consisting of a cylindrical fount provided with a dischargepassage and traversed by a piston whose rod passes freely through a tube, which latter is screw-threaded externally to engage with the cap of said fount, a spring being interposed between said piston and the externally-threaded tube, in combination with a cut-off located transversely of said passage in the base of said fount for the purpose of enlarging or contracting the area of the same, and thereby controlling the speed of said piston, as set forth.

2. An improved grease-cup, consisting of the cylindrical fount A, having a dischargepassage, P, and being traversed by a piston, K, whose rod or stem 1 passes freely through the externally-threaded tube F, which latter engages with the internal screw, E, of cap 0, and carries a jam-nut, N, for the purpose specified, a conical volute spring, M, being interposed between said piston and tube, and the upper end of the piston rod I being furnished with astop, as J, in combination with a cut-off located transversely of said passage in the base of said'fount, for the purpose of enlarging or contracting the area of the same, and thereby controlling the speed of said piston, as set forth, for the object stated.

3. The channeled rod 0 o, secured within the bore U of the grease-cup A by means of collars as T, upset on said rod, for the purpose described.

4. In a grease-cup, the channeled rod 0 0, having turning devices, as R R, at opposite ends of the same, for the purpose specified? In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

7 JAMES POWELL.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

